Pedal-mat.



G. WINTERS.

PEDAL MAT.

APPLICATION FILLED MAB..25,1906.

I PATENTED NOV. 27, 1906.

A TTOR/VEY.

GEORGE WINTERS, OF HAWTHORNE, NEW JERSEY.

PEDAL-MAT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2'7, 1906.

Application filed March 25, 1905. Serial No. 252.097.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE WINTERS, of Hawthorne, in the county of Passaic and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and Improved Pedal-Mat, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in foot-mats; and the object of my invention is to produce a simple and convenient mat which can be used in connection with pedals or treadles of various kinds and which serves the purpose of protecting the floor against the action of the operators foot or heel, and which further enables the operator to use his foot with little or no exertion and with great power.

A further object of my lnvention is to construct the device so that it will afford a convenient heel-hold and enable the foot to be swiveled comfortably and brought to bear efficiently on one of a series of pedals.

My invention is also intended to produce a mat which can be placed with either side or end toward the pedals to be operated. on without affecting the convenience of the operator. When used in connection with pianopedals or with pedal instruments which are likely to be operated on a polished floor, the mat prevents the floor from being injured by the operators foot and at the same time it conserves his energy and enables him to Work efficiently, as above stated.

With these ends in view my invention consists of a mat, the construction of which will be hereinafter clearly described and the novel features claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar figures of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the views.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a mat embodying my invention, and Fig. 2 is a detail section, on the line 2, showing the arrangement of one of the footholds.

The mat 10 can be made of any appropriate design and is preferably a small mat having a generally flat surface 11, but with curved essentially semicircular heelholds 12, raised above the general surface of the mat. These raised heelholds thus form guards,

against which the back of the heel can rest securely, and the raised portion tapers gradually to the general surface of the mat on its side portions, as shown clearly in Fig. 2. The bottom 13 of the heelholds is roughened and preferably inclined slightly toward the center of the mat, so that the heel will rest easily on it, so that the ball of thefootis raised above the general surface of the mat. The mat is also preferably made with tapered edges, as shown in Fig. 2, but this is not essential, and it should be made of rubber or other resilient material; but it can be made of any fibrous substance suitable for mats and having the necessary rigidity to hold its shape. Rubber or some of its resilient imitations are preferably used in the construction of the mat, however.

I prefer to make the mat rectangular and to provide the heel guards or holds on the four sides, as shown in the drawings, but this feature can be departed from without aflecting the principle of the invention.

As stated, the mat can be made in any suitable design and can be used conveniently in connection with piano-pedals, sewing-ma chine treadles, or the pedals of automobiles or analagous things.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. As an improved article of manufacture, a loose foot-mat having on its top surface holds or guards to receive the heel.

2. A loose foot-mat having on its top surface a series of footholds, the said holds being arranged so as to face the central portion of the mat.

3. A loose foot-mat having heelholds thereon, each hold having a raised curved guard, and an inclined bottom surface.

4. A loose mat having on its several sides and facing the central part of the mat a series of curved footholds having raised guards to form their back portions.

GEORGE WINTERS.

Witnesses: 4

WM. H. OAMFIELD, W. B. HUTGHINSON. 

